What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Huge Dare?
I began with the idea of a heroine who’s lost trust in herself and only feels free to step out of her comfort zone when she’s dared to. I knew that dares could take her into some interesting situations and that I could give her three men who’d help her see that she was brave and strong, and courageous.
I also love party games, and Seven Minutes in Heaven is one of the craziest. It takes a lot of trust to get into a closet with another person, which is something Ellie, the heroine in Huge Dare, lacks. I thought it would be fun to spin the game into reverse-harem-world and have three men in the closet waiting for her!
If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Huge Dare, what would they be?
Ellie’s song would definitely be Avril Lavigne’s song Dare to Love Me. The lyrics perfectly convey what it’s like to fear opening your heart to love. When someone has experienced heartache or heartbreak, the prospect of going through it again can be paralyzing. Ellie needs to learn to trust again, not only men, but herself and her judgment.
Here are my favorite lyrics from the song. “I try to let down my guard, but I cover up my scars Yeah, there’s no denyin’ It’s not that I don’t care, it’s just I’m fuckin’ scared It’s terrifyin’ ‘Cause I know it’s a slippery slope But I don’t wanna give up hope Damn, why’s it gotta be this hard just to open my heart?” – Avril Lavigne Dare to Love Me.
What scene in your book was your favorite to write?
I loved writing the closet scene where everything starts. And I’m a sucker for the happy ever after so the bonus chapter I produced for my newsletter subscribers was awesome to write too. It’s fun to take your characters another step forward in their lives without the constraint of following a story structure.
If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?
I like to write men who not only help the heroine out of sticky situations but also encourage her to see her strengths and face her weaknesses. The best kind of people in the world look for ways to support others to grow in confidence and achievement, and that’s what Colby, Sebastian, and Micky do for Ellie.
We aren’t going to stay the same as the years pass. The best relationships adapt so that individuals can continue to grow and develop. The best lovers see our strengths and weaknesses and encourage and support us to work on both.
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